The Repose of Faith

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 5, 1865

The Repose of Faith

Selected for the Review.

The Repose of Faith.

We are only called upon to live for the moment. Christ does not bid us bear now, the burdens of to-morrow, of next week, or next year. Every day we are to come to him in loving simple obedience and faith, asking help to keep us, aid us through that day's work; and to-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, through years of long to-morrows, it will be but the same thing to do; leaving the future always in God's hands, sure that he can care for it better than we. Blessed trust! that can thus confiding say, "This hour is mine with its present duty; the next is God's, and when it comes, Christ's presence will come with it." This is the repose of faith, whose heavenly quiet no storms disquiet. Thus is born that joy, which temptation and trial have no power to extinguish; for it is nowhere pretended that the Christian life is free from conflict. Paul fought the good fight of faith, but mind you he finished his course with joy. And Christ while he said to his disciples, "These things have I spoken unto you that ye might have peace" said in the same breath, "in the world ye shall have tribulation," but went on to add, "be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Ah! there is glory in the strife when we are "more than conquerors." Think of the song of victory over all the foes that now assail us! Think of sin and Satan and death prostrate at our feet! But he that would be like Christ and work for Christ must expect Christ's portion. The world will neither applaud, nor comprehend him. It may call him a fool, or a fanatic, or if the name of hypocrite will wound deeper, Satan will not fail to instigate his emissaries to find the most cutting epithet. But it is a very little thing if the world does frown, when God's presence beams upon him. It may throw stumbling blocks in the way, or divide from what the earth holds dear; it may lift the voice of calumny, or the hand of violence, and stab the heart and take away life; but it cannot touch the treasure in the soul, nor harm the life that is hid with Christ in God.

Then never shrink from deep devotion because you fear its trials or its sacrifice. Paul in martyrdom was unspeakably happier than God's half-hearted servants. For there is all this difference in the two phases of Christian experiences: The one is the narrow way to the lowlands, full of pitfalls, and darkened by fogs and clouds through which we painfully travel; the other is far on the mountain top, far above the cloud-level,—still the narrow way, indeed, and often strewn with crosses; but the clear sky is overhead and the fresh clear air is round us, and we journey on with the friend so much dearer than a brother perpetually by our side; and his smile is the light of life, and his voice sweeter than angel's music.

There is no mysticism about this. It is eminently practical and so plain and childlike, that a child will comprehend it best. It is but taking Christ at his word, and living as he has bid us live. If we will put aside all prejudices and preconceived theories, and take up our Bibles as if it had just come down to us from Heaven, meaning just what the language imports, we will see that these simple truths are on every page. Christ says to each disciple, "Follow me," and they who follow him must do Christ's work. Satan will tempt us with wicked thoughts and unholy desires, but the moment we feel them we should turn to Christ and pray, "Lord I cannot keep myself from this sin, do thou save me."